As Mark mentions there was quite the Japanese influence in Thailand. Should you get the chance check out the Grand Palace in Bangkok as you enter there is another section that will cost you few extra...

Glad you brought it back up also as I missed it. The blade originally in question is as migeldiaz noted a modern pira. Common in markets and throughout the Sulu archipelago now days. I actually have...

Andrew,
Still trying to get your hands on some of Mark's collection i see :) While I'd love to stay and chat I'm in transit home and have only this one night in Bangkok and the neon across the street...

Memory is such a fragile thing. Yes Mark those are the posters i sent you and that is the book, specifically Lung Phra Derm, pictured on the poster.
I actually got the book from the same lady in the...

Jim,
It had a straight single edged blade of which only the edge was only sharpened from the point to about half its length (and not very sharp at that). large wide fuller that ran the length of the...

Thanks Nathaniel, there was an old post where I discussed these previously and posted pictures from a vendor at Chattu Chak market who specializes in these (but the search feature has defeated me yet...

Freddy meed maw (lit. doctor knife) or meed phra (lit. preist knife) are as katana stated talismanic and while they come in varying sizes from penknife to full blown dha what makes them meed phra is...

Currently in Bangladesh and while I have numerous local drivers out scouring Dhaka for swords, even a 10% finders fee has only turned up two handles and an old British Calvary sword. Anyone out there...